“You may have a point.”
The maid left the room and returned with a bag full of brushes and make-up. Her pink glossy lips twitched into a devilish smile. “Don’t worry about anything and sit still.”
Helena couldn’t help smiling as Perri brushed her hair. Although spending time with this girl was a lot of fun, it made her miss her friends even more.
After what seemed to be an eternity of Perri’s sighs and grunts, they were ready. Perri took her hand, and they hurried to the dining hall where the ball was going to take place. To stay balanced on her high heels, Helena held on to Perri’s arm. Once they reached the dining hall, she let her go and managed to keep her posture straight enough not to fall over like a bowling pin.
“Let us enjoy ourselves to the fullest,” Perri chirped when Rupert, smartly dressed in his grey tuxedo, opened the door for them.
The dining hall had undergone complete remodelling. The long table had been pushed back against the wall and was filled with food and drink. Crystal chandeliers had replaced the candle ones. The paintings in the room were changed from their usual mysterious scripts and captured scenes of battle to beautiful heart-warming landscapes.
Near the refreshments table stood the chef, Terry. She wore a neon pink dress and seemed most pleased with it as she kept swirling her layered skirts around to the ballroom music while talking to the other staff.
Helena murmured into Perri’s ear, “Is that Terry?”
She grinned. “She wanted bright pink and something puffy, so I got her that.”
“Wow. It’s different…”
“My thoughts exactly,” Perri whispered back.
Helena studied the others. Everyone wore well-designed suits and dresses. She felt someone moving to stand next to her, and, when Helena turned, Hans extended his hand to her with a bow at his waist.
“Would you care for a dance?” he asked.
From such a simple gesture, she could almost hear Perri’s disappointed thoughts.
“I’m so sorry but my first dance was already promised to Rupert.” Helena grabbed the butler’s arm and shot him a pleading look.
The old man’s cheeks flushed a shade of a pomegranate. Rupert patted her hand. “Ah, yes…the dance with Miss Hawthorn. How could I forget?”
Helena faced Hans with an apologetic smile. “Perri, on the other hand, is free I believe.”
“Yes, I’m very free,” Perri spoke dreamily.
Hans offered his hand to her. “It would be my pleasure if you would accompany me.”
Perri took his hand and mouthed a “thank you” to Helena. Whatever was to come out of their relationship, she would try to support Perri’s choice. If Hans was anything like Vincent, he would not play around with her, and that set Helena’s mind at ease.
“About the dance, Miss Hawthorn…” Rupert interrupted her train of thought.
Helena realised she kept holding on to him, and he had become almost purple in the face with embarrassment.
“I’m sorry. Let’s go.” She propelled him to the dance floor where, as they waltzed, she kept stealing glances at Perri’s brightest smile.
After a dance with Rupert and Mr Felgrove—the gardener—she chose to take a break by the wall with a glass of water. In the meantime, Perri had changed dance partners. Hans’ eyes hadn’t once left the maid since they separated.
Maybe there is hope for them yet.
“Do you have a moment?” Vincent asked.
She hadn’t noticed him move from across the room. “Yes, of course.”
Helena set her glass on the table and was escorted by him into the garden.
Cold October air made her shiver. It had been raining all morning, and the sky was displayed bare with stars twinkling above their heads. She breathed in a lungful of air that smelt of the sea.
Vincent shrugged off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“There’s no need for you to do this,” she protested.
“Do not worry about me. I will not get cold.” He offered her his arm. “Shall we take a stroll? There are some things I wish to discuss with you.”
She looped her arm through his, and they started moving. The moon was nowhere in sight, hidden behind a lone dark cloud that spoiled the perfect sky. Light from the windows helped illuminate the garden’s deciduous trees that stood tall on a bed of fallen coloured leaves, their shadows danced on the ground to the wind’s silent tune.
Vincent cleared his throat. “First, I wish to apologise for the way I treated you during our first meeting. I was taken aback by your resemblance to Eva.”
“I don’t need an apology. I want to go home.”
“That may not possible for the time being. My interest in you has gotten Eliza and Andreaz curious.”
“Who exactly is Eliza?”
“Someone you should hope to never meet.”
His cryptic answer intrigued her. She fought her urge to question him further but knew better than to press him for answers. “Alright, I’ll take your word for it.”
“It would seem that Andreaz has spoken to her and was granted permission to take you for the remainder of the time.”
She stumbled and withdrew her arm. “What are you trying to say? I have to go with the man who nearly killed Lucious and Alexander?”
“I have tried to combat his request, but he remains Eliza’s favourite. He will collect you tomorrow.”
Frosty bite of the wind brushed her legs, and she hugged herself. “Is there another way to convince her?”
“Eliza does not care for human lives. She values that which benefits her. Unless I can offer her something better to grasp her interest, she will send you to him without a second thought.”
She was at a loss for words. Vincent did not seem like a vampire who would lie to her. He may be one of the few people who didn’t want to exploit her.
After a moment, Vincent gestured for her to keep moving. When they reached the end of a path, they orbited the pond, making progress back towards the castle.
Helena stole a peek at him. Whatever he was thinking brought a frown to his face.
“I must warn you,” he said. “There are certain rumours about him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s from an era when women were considered to be a commodity. I fear he has not learned to see them as anything more.”
She gave a bitter laugh. “That seems like fun right after being possessed by a demon.”
He looped her hand through his and patted it with the gentleness of a concerned father. His touch felt almost warm against her skin. She hadn’t realised how cold she was until then.
“You are cold, we must return.”
Her hand slid away from him. “What do I do if he tries something?”
“I fear that I do not have an answer for you.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, so she closed it again. What could she say to that? If she tried to escape, she was endangering herself and Lucious. Staying with Andreaz was not on her things-to-do-before-you-die list either.
Vincent paused. “I almost forgot.”
He reached into his breast pocket and retrieved a small necklace with a pale amber stone encased in restricting metal vines. “Madeline left this for you. She told me that you must remember to leave the necklace in the blessed salt when the stone turns black.”
Helena took the necklace from him. “Thank you. Could you thank her for me?”
“I will.” He inclined his head, and they threaded the rest of the way without another word.
If she slipped away from the party now, she could reach the town and find a train station there. What then? She could never return home. What was stopping the vampires from attacking her parents to force her to return?
They parted in the hallway after she asked to remain there for a moment to gather her thoughts. Helena rested her back against the wall. Closing her eyes, she imagined she was back home with Laura, Andrew, her mother, and Richard, h
aving dinner and discussing some dull local news. A tear rolled down her cheek, making it sting with heat.
“Helena, are you in here?” Perri’s distant voice destroyed the little patch of delight she had assembled.
She blinked a few times to push back the sadness. “I’m here.”
Perri ran over, full of concern. “Why aren’t you enjoying the party?”
She forced a smile. “I needed some air, so Vincent stayed with me.”
Perri looped her arm through hers, forcing Helena to move towards the music. “This is your party and, therefore, you have to have a lot more dances than two.”
Helena laughed. “I thought you were too busy watching Hans.”
“Very funny. Let’s hurry.”
Perri brought her to the dance floor. Another waltz played, and she took Helena’s hand into hers. She wrapped her other arm around Helena’s waist. As they danced, Perri proved to be a great lead.
Concentrating on the music, Helena started having fun.
They parted, and Perri asked, “Didn’t that feel good?”
The next song had come to a sudden stop, and everyone moved to see what was going on. Vincent stood by the door with Hans. Their broad backs blocked the view of whoever was there.
“Let me through. I’m here to do my duty, Vincent.”
Helena shuddered, remembering Andreaz’s accented voice from the Russian Roulette. It slithered up her body like an invisible hand and looped around her throat like a noose.
“We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.” Vincent’s tone came out cold and unamused.
Perri shot Helena a questioning look to which she shrugged in return. There was no way she could tell her the truth.
“Step aside, old man. I believe it is my turn to play. Eliza has given me permission to take her whenever I please. Call her if you don’t believe me.”
When Hans moved to block Andreaz, Vincent put his hand on Hans’ shoulder and shook his head.
Although reluctant, Hans moved away, his eyes fixed on their unwelcomed guest.
Helena met Andreaz’s cold and calculating stare. He knew exactly where she was. A slow smile spread across his thin lips. He brushed past Vincent and outstretched his hand towards her. The orange glow in his eyes betrayed his pleasant demeanour.
“Come here, Helena. We’re going to have a lot of fun together.”
She balled her quivering hands at her sides. Her nails dug into her palms as she spared one last glance at Perri and took the first reluctant step towards her new captor.
19
New Captor
“Why do you have to leave now?” Perri asked and folded away one of Helena’s decrepit t-shirts that were scattered on the bed.
Helena gathered her remaining belongings from the wardrobe and threw them on the bed to join an already existing pile. “I don’t have much say in the matter.”
“I don’t like the man you’re travelling with. He’s creepy.”
“Honestly, I think that even his mother doesn’t like him.”
Perri snorted.
Helena reached down to gather her two pairs of shoes and proceeded to toss them over her shoulder without looking. She scanned the room and frowned at the pile in the centre of the bed.
“When did I manage to accumulate so much clothing?” She glanced at the possible culprit. “Perri, what did you do?”
“You brought so little with you, so I lent you a few things.” Perri took one of Helena’s most-used sweaters and poked her finger through the hole in the sleeve. “You don’t seem like the type to go out shopping much.”
She yanked the sweater from the maid’s hands and busied herself with folding it. Unable to make the material behave, she crumpled it and tossed it into the travelling bag.
Perri’s hand landed on her shoulder. Her eyes filled with concern. “Are you alright?”
Helena’s throat constricted. She didn’t want to show her true panic to her new friend. This is not Perri’s problem. She bit her lip. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Perri grasped her shoulders. There was that look in her eyes again, one that saw more than she let on. “I thought you would be happier to return home.”
A strained smile appeared on Helena’s tired face. “You’re right. I should be, shouldn’t I?”
“Ah, two pretty ladies standing here alone. May I join?” Andreaz’s words breezed in from the doorway.
Helena’s eyes darted in his direction. He stood there, hands folded in his black coat’s pockets, leaning against the doorframe. The tendrils of his energy crawled along the ground towards her and when they reached her, she shivered.
Perri’s hands slid away. “I am going to get some more clothes for your journey.” With a final, fleeting look at Helena, she rushed out of the room.
Unable to contain her glare, Helena shot daggers at her retreating form. How could she abandon me? Taking a shaky step back, she felt his predatory gaze on her. Her leg bumped into something solid. She looked down to find the bedside table digging into her thigh.
Andreaz moved promptly to her side, filling the air with the sickeningly sweet cologne that encompassed him like a cloud of bad odour. He didn’t touch her. He didn’t have to. His energy wormed its way around her, making her skin crawl.
She held her breath.
“You are a curious little creature. Skin as white as porcelain and those eyes…” He lifted her chin with two fingers. “Yes, defiant to the bitter-sweet end.”
Helena turned her face away. His touch was worse than the invading stench of his cologne.
Andreaz caught her jaw, forcing her to face him. “You must look at people who are addressing you.”
She winced. It’ll be alright, she chanted as her quivering hand searched for anything she could use as a weapon.
“From now on, you should be a good girl and listen to your new master.”
Her hand gripped the scissors on the end table. “I will not be your servant.”
Deep laughter erupted from him. He drew back and tapped his chest as if he was short for air. Meanwhile, she shifted closer towards the doorway.
He coughed. “You couldn’t be more wrong. And, I suggest you don’t try anything either.” The elder grasped her wrist and yanked on the hand in which she held the scissors. He lowered his voice to a growl. “Because if you do, I will kill you.”
“Andreaz, what is the meaning of this?” Vincent’s voice brought an involuntary sigh from her.
“I was acquainting myself with my new charge. Don’t you think it’s appropriate?”
Vincent’s eyes lingered on her. “Leave her to pack. We have other things to discuss in my study.”
“Yes, yes, it’s always discussions with you,” Andreaz said and left with Vincent.
With rosy cheeks and ragged breath, Perri ran over and gathered Helena into a warm hug. “I got Master Vincent as fast as I could.”
She hadn’t betrayed me. Helena relaxed her stiff body, feeling her energy draining away.
“You’re alright,” Perri murmured into her ear. Her small hand massaged Helena’s back as she melted into Perri’s warmth.
Once she gathered her thoughts, Perri had a strange look of determination on her face.
“What?” Helena asked.
“I’m going wherever you’re going.”
Helena blinked in shock. When the words sunk in, she shook her head. “No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am. I can’t leave you alone with him!”
No matter how much she wanted to accept her selfless offer, Helena’s kept envisioning the image of Perri’s emotionless, glassy stare. She grasped the maid’s arms with what little strength she had left. “There’s no need to worry about it. Nothing happened between us, trust me.”
Perri narrowed her eyes. “But you were so pale when I arrived, and those marks on your face.” She touched her fingertips to one of the faint bruises forming on Helena’s jaw. It stung, but Helena did her best to pretend like nothing was wrong.
> “I’m fine and will be fine.” At last, her legs regained enough strength to move. “Help me pack.”
“Helena, I—”
She silenced further protests with her raised hand. “If you don’t want to help me, you may leave.”
They had been in the car for hours. Helena pretended to find the vast darkness outside her window interesting while Andreaz sat in the driver’s seat of his sports car. He hadn’t touched her once since they left, which she believed to be a great progress.
A few times, she caught him glancing in her direction. The hungry look in his dark, almond-shaped eyes made her shudder. So, she shifted closer to the door to create as much distance as the small space would allow.
The world seemed to be dying as winter neared. Half-bare trees stood strong against the wind that tore at the remaining leaves. Headlights of the car irradiated the dark road she wished would lead her back home.
Soon, the sun rose over the horizon and an estate came into view. The country road guided them towards not one but two grand Victorian mansions. They were almost identical to one another as they shook off the shadows wrapped around them with the help of the morning rays.
There were no trees here, not even a bush for as long as a mile. There is nowhere to hide.
The car pulled to a stop, and she grew rigid in her seat.
A woman with blonde hair tied into a bun opened the door and captured Helena’s arm.
“Get her adjusted to her new life, Hannah,” Andreaz said from his seat.
“Yes, Master.” The woman bowed. Her cold fingers dug into Helena’s wrist. And, once the seatbelt was undone, she was jolted out of the car and into the morning breeze.
“I can walk by myself,” Helena snapped.
Hannah surrendered her hold. A large red imprint of a hand remained on Helena’s wrist where a small ache was building. She glared at the stranger for branding her with a new budding bruise.
The blonde rounded the car. The boot popped open with a loud click. She reached in and tossed a bag on the ground at Helena’s feet. “Take your things, human. You’re staying with the rest.”
Russian Roulette (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 1) Page 29